Classic Poem

England's heart! Oh never fear
The sturdy good old stock;
Nothing's false or hollow here,
But solid as a rock:
England's heart is sound enough,
And safe in its old place,
Honest, loyal, blithe and bluff,
And open as her face!

England's heart! With beating nerves
It rallies for the throne,—
And, like Luther, well preserves
The knee for God alone!
England's heart is sound enough,
Unshaken and serene,
Like her oak-trees, true and tough,
And old—but glad and green!

England's heart! All Europe hurl'd
To ruin, strife and death,
Sees yet one Zoar in all the world
The Goshen of the earth!
England's heart is sound enough,—
And—though the skies be dark,
Though winds be loud, and waves be rough—
Safe as Noah's ark!

England's heart!—ay, God be praised,
That thus in patriot pride,
An English cheer can yet be raised
Above the stormy tide:
Safe enough and sound enough,
It thrills the heart to feel
A man's a bit of English stuff,
True from head to heel!